Ratan Kumar Rai

Principal-level NMR spectroscopist with 10+ years of expertise spanning solution-state and solid-state NMR, with broad application across drug discovery, structural characterization of small molecules, synthetic intermediates, impurities, and degradants. Experienced in designing and executing advanced 1D/2D and heteronuclear NMR experiments (HSQC, HMBC, COSY, NOESY/ROESY, TOCSY) and solid-state MAS NMR for physical form characterization. Skilled in Bruker NMR instrumentation (400–900 MHz) including cryoprobes and MAS probes, with hands-on facility leadership experience managing multi-instrument NMR operations and multi-user access.

Proficient in NMR data processing and structure elucidation software (MestreNova/MNova, TopSpin/IconNMR) and scientific computing (Python, MATLAB) for automated workflows and digital data analytics. Track record of cross-disciplinary collaboration, scientific communication, and 33 peer-reviewed publications. Adept at integrating NMR with complementary analytical techniques (LC-MS, HPLC, vibrational spectroscopy) to solve complex characterization challenges across drug discovery and development.

NMR Principal Scientist & Facility Director, Assistant Research Professor at Indiana University School of Medicine (2020-01 – Present)

Lead all NMR operations for a state-of-the-art Bruker 600 MHz facility including solution-state and solid-state NMR; manage cryoprobe performance, MAS probe maintenance, multi-user training, and instrument uptime — experience directly applicable to managing GSK's multi-instrument NMR infrastructure.

• Design and execute advanced 1D/2D NMR experiments for structural characterization of small molecules, drug candidates, synthetic intermediates, impurities, and degradants; apply heteronuclear experiments (HSQC, HMBC, COSY, TOCSY, NOESY/ROESY) for complete structure elucidation.
• Solid-state NMR characterization: Apply MAS solid-state NMR to characterize physical form of pharmaceutical and biological materials; extensive experience with amorphous and crystalline solid systems.
• Develop and implement automated NMR workflows using Python and IconNMR for sample acquisition, processing, and reporting — driving digitalization and data analytics within the laboratory.
• Pioneer novel NMR applications: Designed and implemented 19F SAR by NMR fragment-based screening workflows for drug discovery targeting undruggable protein systems, expanding facility NMR capabilities into new application domains including biologics-relevant screening.
• Integrate NMR with complementary analytical techniques including LC-MS and HPLC for comprehensive structural and impurity characterization; collaborate with medicinal chemists, structural biologists, and translational researchers across cross-disciplinary project teams.
• Scientific reporting and communication: Author and co-author scientific reports for multidisciplinary project teams and cross-functional stakeholders; 33 peer-reviewed publications demonstrating sustained scientific contribution.

Postdoctoral Researcher — NMR Metabolomics & Mixture Analysis at University of Kentucky (2019-01 – 2020-01)

Applied Stable Isotope Resolved Metabolomics (SIRM) and untargeted NMR profiling to characterize complex biological mixtures — directly relevant to impurity and degradant profiling in pharmaceutical development.

• Developed NMR-based analytical workflows for complex multicomponent matrices; contributed to MRI/MRS projects in preclinical oncology model systems.

Postdoctoral Researcher — Solid-State NMR & Structural Biology at University of California San Diego (2015-01 – 2018-12)

Developed multidimensional solid-state MAS NMR methodologies for high-resolution structural determination of membrane proteins (CXCR1/IL-8) and antimicrobial peptides — providing working knowledge of NMR applications to biologics such as membrane-associated proteins.

• Fabricated oriented solid-state NMR probes; developed structural constraint methods for oriented membrane systems; demonstrated innovation in challenging NMR experimental design.

Ph.D. Researcher — Solid-State NMR, Materials & Quantitative Methods at Centre of BioMedical Research (CBMR), Integral University (2008-01 – 2014-12)

Characterized pharmaceutical-relevant inorganic-organic composite interfaces by high-resolution solid-state NMR; applied DNP-enhanced SSNMR for sensitivity enhancement.

• Developed 2D NMR quantitative methods for complex mixture analysis and non-linear sampling protocols to accelerate 2D NMR acquisition — foundational to qNMR and automated workflow development.
• Applied NMR-based metabolomics for acute respiratory distress syndrome biomarker identification; contributed to grant writing and submission.

Ph.D. in Biophysics – Integral University / Centre of BioMedical Research (CBMR) (2008-01 – 2014-12)

M.Phil. in Magnetic Resonance – Lucknow University (2008-01 – 2008-12)

M.Sc. in Physics – Lucknow University (2004-01 – 2006-12)